French Riviera - Nice Old Town

The Promenade des Anglais stretches for seven magnificent kilometers along the Baie des Anges, a sweeping crescent of azure Mediterranean water framed by the terracotta rooftops of Nice and the foothills of the Maritime Alps rising behind the city. Originally a modest seaside path funded by the English aristocrats who wintered in Nice in the 18th century, the promenade has evolved into one of the most celebrated waterfronts in the world, lined with Belle Epoque hotels, palm trees, and the iconic blue chairs where visitors and locals alike sit to watch the sunset paint the sky in shades of coral and gold. The beach below, covered in the smooth pebbles characteristic of the Riviera, slopes into waters of an almost impossibly vivid blue that has given the Cote d'Azur its name and inspired artists from Matisse to Chagall. Walking or cycling the promenade from the old town to the airport is one of the great urban experiences in France, a journey that captures the essence of Mediterranean life in a single unbroken stretch of sea, sky, and elegant architecture.

The Vieille Ville, or Old Town, is a captivating maze of narrow streets, baroque churches, and tall ochre and terracotta buildings with faded shutters, washing lines, and tiny balconies overflowing with flowers that create a scene of irresistible Mediterranean charm. At its heart, the Cours Saleya hosts one of the finest open-air markets in the south of France, where stalls overflow with fragrant Provencal lavender, olives, fresh-cut flowers, socca chickpea crepes, and local specialties that embody the region's culinary traditions. The Baroque Cathedral of Sainte-Reparate, the Chapel of the Misericorde with its magnificent interior, and the Place Rossetti with its gelato shops and outdoor cafes are among the landmarks scattered through the old town's winding streets, each one a small discovery. The neighborhood comes alive in the evening, when restaurants spill onto the narrow streets, the aroma of ratatouille and pissaladiere fills the air, and the warm glow of lamplit facades creates an atmosphere that perfectly captures the romance of the French Riviera.

Nice has been a magnet for artists since the 19th century, and the city's extraordinary light, which seems to intensify colors and soften shadows in equal measure, inspired some of the greatest works of modern art. The Musee Matisse, set in a 17th-century Genoese villa on the Cimiez hill, houses an extensive collection tracing the artist's career from early academic works to the radiant cut-outs of his final years, all created in the city he called home for nearly four decades. The Musee Marc Chagall nearby contains the largest public collection of the artist's work, including seventeen monumental canvases of the Biblical Message series glowing with his signature jewel-like colors. Beyond the museums, the Riviera lifestyle itself is the attraction, from the elegant terraces of the Hotel Negresco to the hilltop village of Eze perched above the sea, from the perfumeries of Grasse to the glamour of nearby Monaco and Cannes, the entire coast offers a way of life that celebrates beauty, pleasure, and the art of living well.